Towering personality
K.K. GOPALAKRISHNAN
|
Vivid and simple, Akkitham's verse changed the prevailing ethos in Malayalam poetry.
|
Major influence: Akkitham Achuthan Namboodiri.
"Light is sorrow/ Darkness is comfort."
THESE lines written 54 years ago by Kerala's most respected poet, Akkitham Achuthan Namboodiri, are the most quoted in Malayalam. Popularly known as Akkitham, the poet turns 80 on March 18.
These lines are from one of his classic poems, "Irupatham Noottandinte Ithihasam" (The Epic of the 20th Century) that paved the way for modernism in Malayalam poetry. This poem changed the then prevailing ethos of Malayalam poetry and influenced almost all the writers of that period and those who came after.
"This poem was conceived during 1948-49 as a result of my intimate association with some communists, including those underground. Initially I was afraid to write it because of its political implications. By 1951, my conscience left me with no option but to pen it," reminisces Akkitham.
Artistic instincts
Akkitham's family had a strong tradition in literature and painting. His half-brother is Akkitham Narayanan, the Paris-based painter. His son, Akkitham Vasudevan, is also a painter, a Professor at Baroda's M.S. University. The poet too showed initial artistic instincts, but a four-line poem about those who damage temple premises at seven and a half changed his creative pursuits. Another turning point was when he wrote a sloka apologising to the Lord for eating a fruit that he was not supposed to.
Though born in an aristocratic family, he had a leaning towards socialism and communism. He was a close associate of communist leaders like late E.M.S. Namboodiripad and others. But the publication of "Irupatham Noottandinte Ithihasam" changed his political life too. He was suddenly criticised for being "anti-communist". "I am least interested in re-opening a controversy more than five decades old and almost dead now. However, I still believe that true communism means humanity and benevolence," says Akkitham. Today he is the most towering personality in Malayalam poetry. So far he has written 46 books of poems, plays, translations, essays and short stories. His translation of the "Bhagavatham" in three volumes is considered a masterpiece.
What lifts his works above that of others is the vividness and simplicity of his verse. The poet also served the All India Radio as a scriptwriter and retired in 1985 as the Editor, a post created exclusively for him in Kerala when he won the Central Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Literary Review
